Well here we are again with another makeup related post, some of my favorite posts to be honest because I get to go through my collection and actually look through what I have. I have discovered new favorites as I go through the posts like this and it has for sure made me realize that some of my collection has the potential to be retired because of age or condition. I have mostly purged my collection, there was a trend on YouTube of “doing my makeup with products I don’t like” and it made me go through and get rid of some things that I either haven’t used in a long time or really just didn’t like because of quality. My makeup collection at the moment seems to be a nice balance of quantity and quality though I don’t need to buy anymore for a long time, does that mean I won’t? No, it just means that I will think about my purchases a little bit more before I walk into Ulta and start singing “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Because let’s be real if it was socially acceptable, I probably would.

The Blushes:

1. Too Faced-Love Flush in Baby Love

This was my first high end blush, I want not really a wearer of blush until a few years ago, this is in my Makeup Bag Essentials so I have talked about it before but it is a softer pink and it goes on really well with not a lot of effort, it is a little dusty, particles do tend to fly more with this one when it comes out of the pan than some of the others that I have had in the past but it is still one of my favorites for many reasons, the color, the pigment (light without being overbearing), the packaging, and even the design on the blush pan itself. (so much attention to detail)

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills-Blush Trio in Pink Passion

Now I got this one this month because I needed more blush. (I didn’t but I did) You are actually going to see this later in the month in my October Beauty Haul post so spoilers I guess. One deeper pink, one pastel pink, and one dusty pink make up this palette and I must say all of the colors are nice. Anastasia is a newer brand for me to get into. My first Anastasia product was the Prism eyeshadow palette and I have loved the quality ever since.

The Bronzers:

Just a lovely army of one here.

1. Benefit-Hoola

I got this as a sample and for the summer it is amazing, I think in the winter I would switch to Hoola Lite to be honest because for the most part I am very pale and if I am going for a natural look there is a good chance I am not going to bronze very much. I got really tan this summer from being outside so when I did wear makeup I did need to bronze and somedays it just feels nice to have a little bit of bronze. This was a sample I got a few months ago, check the April Beauty Haul post or my Makeup Bag Essential’s post for all the rest of my thoughts on this product.

The Contour Kits:

Something I realized when I was taking pictures for this post; I sure do have a lot of contour palettes for someone who doesn’t contour much. I started buying the palettes when that over exaggerated contouring was popular because everyone was doing it. Now as soon as I started trying to figure out how to do it a more natural contour look came around and I found that I preferred that. I still want to try that “clown” contouring trend from a few years ago but let’s be honest in my opinion some of that was just for clicks on social media and on YouTube. It looked fun but not something that you would ever really want to do in a regular everyday makeup routine, unless you want to spend three hours doing your makeup and I know very few people in their real lives who have time to do that.

1. NYX- Highlight and Contour Pro Palette

This was my first contour palette because of its price point. It is a solely powder based product which for the most part I love; I haven’t really experimented much with crème products even though I have a few but I feel those are more in my higher end brands like the other two in this section. I will definitely say that this product has a great range of shades for multiple skin tones even though I have a very fair complexion so some of the shades aren’t for me but having more comprehensive shades in this palette is great.

2. Tarte Tartist Pro Glow

I got this in my summer fabfitfun box and I have only used it a handful of times but I have gotten some good results. I am still working on being able to “chisel” my face like I am made of marble. Maybe I just wish that I had higher cheek bones, maybe that’s it. I love all of Tarte’s products that I have tried and this is no different. It is a mix of powder and crème shades and it great. Like the rest of Tarte’s clay based products it smells amazing! I like the more natural scent then a chemical scent that some companies end up having when they try to make things smell good. (Too Faced can pull that off too, their peach scented things actually smell like peach.)

3. Urban Decay- Naked Skin Shapeshifter in Light-Medium Shift

I can say so much about this palette I got it in March, check the haul post. I really like that it is half crème and half powder, it comes in a nice slim package, and it has a mirror on both sides, like a mirror sandwich. I haven’t used this one as much as I should but I love the Naked Skin line from Urban Decay, it is the only concealer that I use and I love that too.

The Highlighters:

1. Becca- Shimmer Skin Perfector in Opal

This was a sample that I also got in March because it was an email blast and I love those for samples because sometimes you don’t want to buy a full sized product because you don’t know if you are going to like it. I love this one it is a great highlight when I am going for a subtler highlight and that is most of the time. It’s a great shade and I have used it on multiple occasions when I want to shine just a little brighter.

2. Morphe- High Impact Highlighter in Extra

I got this in August, again you can read about it more in my August Beauty Haul post. I love the color and Morphe to me always has really good stuff at a really fair price point. It has a high end feel and effect without the high end price tag and that is something for me that is really important. I love my higher end brands don’t get me wrong but if I can find a great product for under $10 that is a huge thing. I need to use it more, that’s the bottom line.

3. Urban Decay-After Glow Highlighter Palette

This was my first highlight palette and is my go to for a lot of things, like one of the products that is ever present in my makeup bag. I love having four shades to play with where the colors are rather unique and can be used for various looks and layer amazingly. Urban Decay seems to never disappoint (at least for me) with their products and packaging and this palette is just another example of that.

4. Anastasia Beverly Hills- Aurora Glow Kit

Last one! This palette has some really unique colors but I haven’t really gotten to play with it much because I got it in July and I haven’t been wearing like any makeup since then. I have swatched all of the colors and they are a little dramatic and sometimes you need to switch things up and have a more dramatic look. Again Anastasia tends to be the brand that is one of my go to brands when it comes to more daring things.

Well there it is, the round up. I have linked what feels like half of my blog posts into this post because I feel like that is what a round up is for in a way. These views are all my own. I hope you guys all enjoyed the post since I took like a week hiatus to write it.

What are some off your favorite bronzers, blushes, highlighters, and contour items? Let me know in the comments below, is there anything that I should try or should avoid?

-MJ